Things don’t always work out the way you planned them. Shortly after I joined the BriefMobile team, the site underwent a change of management. What appeared initially to be a great opportunity to further improve the site turned out differently. With a lack of direction and commitment from the new ownership as far as I could see, I decided to return to familiar grounds.

Oddly enough, some time ago, I had decided to change the site’s name and give it a fresh coat of paint. While focused on BriefMobile, I began to make the move to a new host with the new name. I was not sure why I was doing that at the time but it was oddly prescient in hindsight.

Without further ado, Gadgetorama is now EyeOnMobility. The site’s mandate has not changed so I hope to see you all on the new site (all the posts have been moved over as well). I will keep Gadgetorama running for a while yet but it will eventually simply redirect to EyeOnMobility.

By now you have likely noticed that the pace at which news is posted here has slowed down substantially (okay, pretty much stopped). As is so often the case, there is good news and bad news to explain this.

Let’s start the bad. After 8 years running Gadgetorama as a one-man show, I have decided to put the site on the backburner. The reality is that one person cannot cover the world of mobile gadgets (even as I tried to narrow the site’s focus over the years) without giving up any semblance of a personal life. I’m not ruling out any new posts but it won’t be the coverage that I strove for in the past.

Now the good news (or at least what I see as good news). I am not hanging up my hat completely, just taking it somewhere else. I recently joined the team over at BriefMobile.com. You’ve probably heard of them, they’re the ones who landed the first pictures and video of the Google Nexus 10.

With a team of writers equally passionate about mobile gadgets bringing you the news, it should be a win for everyone. You get a whole more news for your buck and I don’t have to be in six places at once.

It’s taken a bit of time but Google today announced via Twitter that the Google Nexus 7 dock is finally available in Canada.

Charge and dock your Nexus 7. This dock is expertly angled for optimum viewing of your Google Play movies and television shows. It comes equipped with an audio jack that is ideal for a powered speaker system. The Nexus 7 Dock features a polished exterior and a rubberized base for a sleek look and a secure hold. The micro USB port in the Nexus 7 Dock makes charging easy, so the fun never has to end!

The dock comes with a 3.5mm audio port and micro-USB port at the back. It requires Android 4.2 and audio output requires that the USB AC adapter be connected. It measures 220 by 65 by 30 millimeters and weighs 280 grams.

The Google Nexus 7 Dock sell for CA$29.99. It currently shows that it will ship within 1 to 2 weeks.

Stand out from the crowd with the Windows® Phone 8S by HTC, thanks to its fun and original design! Its features are sure to charm you! A strong, long-lasting battery, an exclusive built-in amplifier for Beats Audio and an ultra-wide-angle front camera lens

Videotron is offering the Windows Phone 8S by HTC for CA$14.95 on a “reduced price” plan and up to CA$349.95 with no contract.

Sony Mobile today announced that its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade is now available in Canada for Sony Xperia T owners. According to the Facebook post:

Your Xperia™ T is about to get even better! Starting today, the Jelly Bean update to Android 4.1 for Xperia T will be available. Just plug your device into your PC and use PC Companion to install the new software.

It does not appear that an OTA update will be provided. Instead, the upgrade will have to be done through Sony’s PC Companion software using a PC.

The Sony Xperia T is offered by Bell, Mobilicity, MTS, Rogers and Vidéotron.

Rumours that Apple is working on a wearable device refuse to die down. A team of over 100 people led by none other than Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, is now hard at work on this so-called iWatch. Bloomberg today reports that Apple is looking to have the device out this year. The Verge corroborates the report, adding additional details as well.

The iWatch remains in development at this time. Rather than leveraging the iPod nano’s touch interface, Apple is reportedly adapting its iOS operating system to work on the watch. Battery life also remains a concern with Apple hoping to have the iWatch last up to five days between charges but only managing about 2 so far.

Features that Apple could give its iWatch include the ability to let users make calls, check map coordinates as well as typical phone capabilities such as call display. It could also include a pedometer and sensors to track health-related information such as heart rate.

Apple expects that the iWatch could be more profitable than its other much-anticipated project, an iTV. Gross margins for the global watch industry average about 60 percent. While Apple may not see similar profits, it would still benefit from significant ones. According to Citigroup Inc. analyst Oliver Chen, this could be a US$6 billion opportunity for Apple with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod — something consumers didn’t even know they needed.”

Fido this week launched two more Android smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE and the Samsung Galaxy Ace II x. Neither will be confused for a current flagship device but they come with a much easier price on the wallet.

The Galaxy S II LTE is the more powerful of the two. Sporting LTE connectivity, it comes with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 4.5-inch AMOLED Plus display, 16GB of onboard memory, and an 8MP camera capable of 1080p video capture.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace II x comes with a 1GHz single-core, Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 4-inch WVGA (800×480) display, 4GB of internal memory and a 5MP camera. Unlike the Galaxy S II LTE which is only available in black, the Ace II x is available in either black or white.

Fido is offering the Galaxy S II LTE for CA$50 with a two-year contract or CA$450 outright. As for the Galaxy Ace II x, it is free with a two-year contract or CA$225 outright.

HTC Canada today announced that it will offer a CA$100 early trade-in deal for customers interested in purchasing the new HTC One. The offer is similar to the one that was announced in the U.S. when the HTC One was announced earlier this month. In fact, it could be worth even more depending on the device you are trading in.

The process to apply for the trade-in is pretty straightforward. Sign up on the HTC One Trade-In page by providing your email address and your carrier. Once you’ve purchased your HTC One, you’ll have to return your old phone along with your HTC One proof of purchase. Within 60 days, you should receive a prepaid Visa card for the value of the trade-in or CA$100 – whichever is greater.

The terms and conditions stipulate that the HTC One must be purchased by March 31st, confirming that it will launch before the end of the month. It also means that you’ll have to move quickly to take advantage of the offer.

It’s time to dig through the old drawer to see what old phones you still have that you could use to get yourself a sweet deal on the HTC One.

BlackBerry looks to be getting ready to launch its first OS update for BlackBerry 10. One of the first carriers that could see the update could be TELUS Mobility. According to the latest edition of its “Upcoming software updates schedule,” the BlackBerry Z10 will be upgraded to BlackBerry 10.1 starting sometime in March.

The update schedule shows a status of “Testing pending.” This may indicate that TELUS has yet to receive the update and put it through its certification process. If so, a late March release may be more likely than an early one.

Unfortunately, there is no information just yet on what Z10 users can expect from BlackBerry 10.1. At the very least, it will be a maintenance release that will address some of the bugs that have surfaced since the smartphone’s launch earlier this month.

TELUS warns that “all dates are subject to change.” We’ll have to check back regularly to see whether the update remains on schedule.

WIND Mobile today became the latest carrier to launch the BlackBerry Z10.

Introducing the reinvented BlackBerry®. An intelligent and intuitive experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Powered by BlackBerry® 10 every feature, every gesture, and every singly tiny detail is designed with you in mind.

WIND Mobile is offering the BlackBerry Z10 for CA$299 on WINDtab with its CA$40 plan, CA$399 on WINDtab with its CA$30 plan, CA$499 on WINDtab with its CA$20 plan or CA$599 outright.

The Canadian Samsung Galaxy Note II Jelly Bean upgrade rollout began earlier this month. As expected, the rollout has been phased with some carriers getting it before others. There is good news today for Galaxy Note II owners on the Mobilicity and WIND Mobile networks as notifications have begun to pop up on their devices.

The Google Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update also includes Samsung’s Multi Window function as well as Chinese language support.

As usual, you will be able to check manually to see if the upgrade is available yet: Settings -> About phone -> System Updates -> Check now.

With MWC 2013 kicking off tomorrow, Samsung took the opportunity to sneak in an announcement before all eyes shift to Barcelona, Spain. This one should not come as much of a surprise given the number of rumours that precede it. As expected, Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet, billed as “a new era of intelligent Note technology set to re-ignite the mid-size tablet category that Samsung established in 2010.” It essentially builds on the very successful Galaxy Note II by offering a larger display and optional phone capabilities (in certain markets).

“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung GALAXY Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

“The GALAXY Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” added Shin.

Mark your calendars and set those alarm clocks. Google today annouced that registration for Google I/O 2013 will open on March 13th at 1000 EST.

Registration will open on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 7:00 AM PDT (GMT-7) and will remain open until tickets are sold out. Based on demand in previous years, we expect to sell out quickly. Just like last year, ticket prices will be USD $900 for general attendees and $300 for academic attendees, and you’ll need a Google+ account and a Google Wallet buyer account to register.

If registration is anything like last year’s, it will sell out very quickly.

Google is likely to use the event to announce the next major version of Android (likely as version 5.0 / Key Lime Pie). Also on tap could be a number of new devices. Past rumoured have hinted at new Nexus devices from LG and there is also that mysterious Motorola X Phone.

Eastlink launched its wireless network in Nova Scotia and PEI last week along with a single retail store in Halifax. It has now launched a second retail location at the Halifax Shopping Centre.

More locations are scheduled to open “in the weeks to come.” One will be at the Sunnyside Mall in Bedford and Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth. Another seven locations, including some in PEI, are expected to follow within the next 18 months. Eastlink, has in the past, said that it would not rush the deployment of its network. As company CEO Lee Bragg explained, “There’s no first to market advantage for us, we’re not in a big panic. We really want to do this right.”

Eastlink offers a combination of plans without contracts as well as bundles that include other Eastlink services (including TV and Internet). Among the devices it offers are the Sony Xperia T, Samsung Galaxy S III, Google Nexus 4, and the BlackBerry Bold 9900.